Tool chest



Jan..3, 1928. Y F. H. LARSON TOOL CHEST Filed June 19, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1928. 1,655,148

F. H. LARSON TOOL CHEST Filed June 19, 192e 2 sheetsfsheet 2 NVENFOR ATYORNEY Patented Jan. 192s.

UNITEDv STATES FREDRICK E. LARSON, 0F BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

TOOL CHEST.

Application led June 19,

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in tool chests and has tonite principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly eliicient in use and economical in manufacture. I n

The present invention contemplates the provision for conveniently opening the cover of the tool chest to'permit access to the interior thereof and for utilizing the carrying handle ofthe tool lchest for operating a locking arrangement locking the cover in closed position when this carrying handle is utilized for carrying the tool chest about and wherein the locking arrangement will automatically operate by gravity when the tool chest is placed upon a support and the carrying handle released to permit opening of the cover. n

.A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool chest including two handles for carrying the tool chest about, one handle being utilized for opening and retaining the cover of the tool chest in open position when the tool chest is carried about and the other being utilized for retaining the.

cover in closed position when this handle is used to carry thetool chest about.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The Ainvent-ion consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

VThe invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferredform of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the invention illustrating the preferred form of construction,

, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, v Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the same taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, p

ig. 4 is a Vfragmentary side elevational view of the tool chest illustrated in Fig. 2 showing the cover in part open condition,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional detail view of the invention illustrating the cover locking arrangement in operativeposition, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2v showing the cover in complete open condition.

To accomplish-the various objects of the 1926. Serial No. 117,148.

invention I provide a tool chest, generally indicated at A, delined by a structure B providing a compartment B for tools and in cluding a bottom Wall 10, side walls 11 and end walls 12. These walls are secured in distended position in a manner well known in the art.

The structure B further includes a cover 13. This cover comprises sectional parts 14 hingedly connected in pairs C for folding upon themselves during movement toward the end walls 12, by means of hinge members 15. The end sectional parts, indicated at 16, Fig. 4, of the cover 13 are hingedly secured to the end walls 12 through the medium ot interior hinges 17.

Theroldi'ng arrangement of the sectional parts isaccomplished through the medium of link members 18 having corresponding end portions 19 pivotally secured as at 20, Fig. 4, to intermediate sectional parts indicated at 21. The opposite end portions of these link members 18 are pivotally secuied as at 22 to link members 23. These link meinbers 23 intermediate their end portions are pivotally secured to the end sectional part 16 as at 24, Fig. 4. The opposite corresponding end portions of the link members 23 define angular extensions 25, Fig. 1.

These angular extensions 25 are secured as at 26, Fig. 1, to operating bars 27. These operating Abars are disposed, when the cover sections are in closed position, along the outer edges 28 of the end sectional parts 16, as best illustrated in Fig. 5.

An operating handle 29 extends across the cover 13 in a longitudinal direction of the structure B and is operatively connected to cylindrical portions 30 formed intermediate the end portions of the operating bars 27,

through the medium of straps 31 as best illustrated in Fig. 3. These straps 31 are secured to the end portions 32 of the operating handle through the medium of securing elements 33, Fig. 3.

The operation of the combination and arrangement of parts thus far described is as follows:

By grasping the operating handle 29 and moving the same upwardly from the cover 13 the operating bars 27 act upon the link members 23 and pivot them about their pivots 24. This pivotal movement ci the link members 23 causes these link members to act upon the link members 18 and pivot these link members in a downward direction causing the intermediate sectional parts 21 to be moved into folded position upon the end sectional parts 16 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. To close the cover the operating handle is pressed downwardly upon the structure B and through the operat-ion of the link members 1.8, and '23, which are operated by downward-movement of the handle the cover sections are moved into flat i.

closing position best illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. During the'opening and closing movement of the cover sections 1t is importantto note that the longitudinal edgesl 34 of the side walls 11 serve to guide the intermediate sectional parts 21 during their movement into opening and closing position.

Means is provide for carrying the tool chest about with the cover sections disposed incoveringpposition. vThis means includes a. handle strapk 35 having its end portions defining loops 36. These loops 36 normally loosely receive bight portions 37, Fig. 1, defined by substantially U-shaped locking hooks D. The limbs 38 'of these locking hooks definev bearings 39 receiving pivot pins 40 carried by the operatinghandle 29, Fig. 1. The outer end portions of the limbs 38 define prongs 41 which are adaptedunder certain conditions to engage in recesses 42 formed in the end cover sections 16 beneath keeper plates 43 secured as at 44 to these end sections, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.

This construction is such that when the handle strap 35 is firmly grasped in the hand in position to support the tool chest for carrying position, the loop portions 36 Vmove into position to act upon the bight portions 37 of the locking hooks to pivot the-limbs 38 about their pivots 40 to move theprongs 41 into hooked engagement with the keeper plates 43 thus locking the cover section against movement toward open position.

In this position of the prongs 41 the cover sections are held against movementinto open position by reason ofthe fact that the tool chest being supported by Vthe carrying handle 35 the entire weight of the structure B is transmitted to the limbsr38 pivoting these members in the direction above mentioned to vmove the prongs 41 into hooked engagement with the keeper plates 43. When the carrying handle 35 is released and is permitted to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the weight of the handle is received by the portion of the limbs 38 inwardly of their pivot connections and causes the limbsv to pivot in an opposite direction about their` pivots 40 moving the prongs 41 from hooked engagement with'the keeper plates 43. In this position of the'prongs 41 opening of the cover sections is permitted by grasping the operating handle 29 in the manner herein set-forth.

While I .have illustrated and described the carrying handle.

preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification 'without-departing from the spi-rit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be` limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire toi avail myself of such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaimsfl n I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim as vnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: j y

1. A toolchest including fining a compartment for tools, a cover for the structure including lsectional parts connected together in pairs for folding upon themselves, means for -hingedly connecting certain'of the s'ectionalparts to the structure, in-operating member, a toggle connection between the operating member and each pair of sectional parts for moving the sectional parts into folded position upon themselves when the roperating handle is -moved in a direction away from the strucported by the carrying handle, and means providing a releasable connection between the locking elements and certa-in of the sectional parts for lockingv the sectional parts in closed position upon pivotal movement of the locking elements.by'operationof the 2. A tool chest including a strueturedefiningfa compartment'for tools, a cover for the structure includingsectionalparts connected in pairsfor Yfolding movement upon themselves,- and means formoving said sectionalfparts into folded and unfolded position, said means facilitating carrying the tool chest with the sectional parts. in vfolded position.. y v. 3. A tool chesty including 'a structure defining a compartment for tools, a cover for the structure including sectional parts connected in pairs for folding movement upon themselves, means for moving said sectional parts into Vfolded and unfolded position, said means facilitating carrying the tool chest with the sectional parts in folded position, andA means facilitatingthe carrying of the tool chest with the sectionalV partsy in covering position. y Y

4. A tool chest including astructure ydefining a ycompartment for -tools, a cover for the structure including sectional parts foldable upon themselves,'means hingedlyconnecting certain of the'sec'tional parts yto the structure, means 'operable upon the sectional parts for moving the ,sectional parts in folded position, means for locking the'seca structure dev tional parts in covering position, and means controlling the locking means and facilitating carrying the tool chest.

5. A tool chest including a structure defining a compartment for tools, a` cover for the structure including sectional parts hingedly connected together for -folding movement upon themselves, means hingedly connecting certain of the sectional parts to the structure, keeper plates carried bysaid certain of the sectional parts, a carrying handle defining opposite loops, pivotally supported locking elements having connection with the loops permitting pivoting of the locking elements when the tool chest is carried about by the carrying handle, means pivotally supporting the locking elements, said means facilitating moving of the sectional parts into open and closed position, and hook end portions defined by the locking elements for engagement with the keeper vtogether for foldable movement upon themselves, means hingedly connecting certain of the sectional parts to the end walls, means.

for moving the sectional parts into folded condition, said means including a toggle connection between the sectional parts, av carrying handle, an operating bar having operative connection with the toggle connection, an operative connection between the operating bar and the handle, and means carried by the handle for locking the sectional parts in closed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK H. LARSON. 

